Arsenal boss
Arsene Wenger rates finishing
third ahead of winning either the FA or Carling Cups.
Wenger knows their title hopes are on the line tomorrow at
Chelsea.
“It’s very important that we win something,” Wenger said
yesterday. “We’re here to win trophies. But it depends on what you
call trophies. Is it the Champions League, the Premier League, the League Cup? If you win the
League Cup, for me, you cannot say that you win trophies.”
Asked if third position was better than winning either domestic
cup, Wenger said: “Of course. It’s much more difficult. I want to
win trophies and I’m frustrated if I don’t.
“But a season does not go from fantastic to zero. A season in
the English league, when you fight with Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Aston
Villa, Man United and Chelsea to finish in the top three, is still not a
disaster.
“We’ve just qualified from the group stage in the Champions
League for the tenth consecutive season. That is, for me, three
times as difficult as winning the League Cup five times. I know
what’s difficult and what’s not difficult. I know people want to
parade with a trophy and if you don’t win a trophy, you can’t do
that. But it doesn’t mean the rest of the season has been
completely useless.”